Jermaine Johnson

Jermaine Lafrance Johnson Sr. was born on July 4, 1985, and is an American politician, political advisor, and former professional basketball player. A member of the Democratic Party, he represents District 52 in the South Carolina House of Representatives, which encompasses Kershaw and Richland Counties.

Johnson grew up in a gang-infested part of Los Angeles before eventually returning to South Carolina to pursue public service. He is married to Dr. Evan Patrice Johnson and has four children: Jermaine Jr., Khloe, Kobe, and Kari. He resides in Hopkins, South Carolina.

Education

Johnson is a College of Charleston alumnus and holds multiple degrees, including a doctorate in Organizational Leadership. He was the first in his family to earn a doctorate.

Political Experience

Johnson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2020, defeating a 22-year incumbent—a significant upset in his district, which had never had a Black representative despite being over 48 percent African American. This victory marked him as the first African American to represent South Carolina House District 80 at that time.

His political journey began with involvement in community service. He served as a Richland County Recreation Commissioner starting in 2016 and held several leadership positions within the Democratic Party structure, including 3rd Vice Chair of the Richland County Democratic Party, Vice Chair of the Young Democrats of the Central Midlands, and Minority Caucus Chair of the Young Democrats of South Carolina.

Currently, Johnson serves on the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee and is Secretary of the House Minority Caucus. He previously served on the House Education and Public Works Committee. He has co-sponsored bi-partisan legislation on instant runoff voting for South Carolina municipalities and was appointed to serve on the Robert Smalls Monument Commission in 2024.

Johnson is also the founder and CEO of the New Economic Beginnings Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to education and employment opportunities for troubled youth and veterans. He works as the owner of Dream Team Consulting and serves as an adjunct professor at Midlands Technical College.